Apparatus for handling fish preparatory to canning



Feb. 13, 1951 P. F. SKOOG 2,541,442

APPARATUS FOR HANDLING FISH PREPARATORY TO CANNING Filed Oct. 20, 1948 3 Sheets-Sheet l ATTORNEY Feb. 13, 1951 P. F. SKOOG 2,541,442

APPARATUS FOR HANDLING FISH PREPARATORY TO CANNING Filed 00+. 20, 1948 3 Sheets-Sheet 2 PEP F S/(OOG m/z/a/roe B W Feb. 13, 1951 P. F. SKOOG 2,541,442

APPARATUS FOR HANDLING FISH PREPARATORY T0 CANNING Filed Oct. 20, 1948 3 Sheets-Sheet 3 g m I ATTOF/VEV Patented Feb. 13, 1951 APPARATUS FOR HANDLING FISH PREPARATORY TO CANNING Per F. Skoog, Olympia, Wash.

Application October 20, 1948, Serial No. 55,494

7 Claims.

This invention relates generally to the commercial canning of fish and particularly to a method of and apparatus for handling fish preparatory to canning.

The main object of this invention is to provide a machine and method for cutting the fish to a length which will correspond with the depth of the can into which it is to be packed and to turn the cut pieces up on end and to transfer them to a continuously moving conveyor by means of which they are carried to a can filling machine described in my U. S. Patent 2,248,311.

The second object is to provide a machine which will handle the pre-cooked fish without an objectionable amount of breakage.

The third object is to make it possible to attain the high speed property of a machine with the delicate action of the human hand.

The fourth object is to reduce the amount of labor required in the canning operation and, at the same time, reduce the amount of breakage which, in hand packing, commonly amounts to twenty per cent of the pack to less than fiveper cent when my machine and method are employed.

The fifth object is to improve the pack from a sanitary standpoint as it eliminates entirely all contact with the hands.

The sixth object is to improve the pack by reducing the length of time required for processing, making it possible to place the fish within the cans as soon as possible, thereby reducing oxidation as well as shortening the period of eXposure to contamination by gas and odors or dust and lint which may be carried by the air.

These and other objects are accomplished in the manner set forth in the followin specification as illustrated in the accompanying drawings, in which:

Fig. 1 is a fragmentary plan of the machine showing a slicing operation.

Fig. 2 is a section taken along the line 2-2 in Fig. 1.

Fig. 3 is a horizontal section taken along the line 3-3 in Fig. 4, but omitting the separator 63, showin the cut slices turned over on the table.

Fig. 4 is a section taken along the line 4-4 in Fig. 3.

Fig. 5 is a side elevation of the cam element with a portion broken away in section.

Fig. 6 is an end elevation of the machine with parts broken away in section to disclose hidden parts.

Fig. 7 is a diagrammatic view showing a slicing cut.

Fig. 8 is a view similar to Fig. '7, showing the cut slices being picked up.

Fig. 9 is similar to Fig. 8, showing the slices elevated'to the plane of the off-bearing conveyor.

Fig. 10 is a View similar to Fig. 9 showing the slice moved onto the conveyor by the pusher with the pusher withdrawn.

Fig. 11 is a view similar to Fig. 10, showing the parts in position for the start of the next slice.

Fig. 12 is a side elevation of the Genev'a'motion for operating the turret in which the motion shafts are shown in cross section.

Fig. 13 is a side elevation of the rake tipping earn in a position corresponding with Fig. 10.

Like numbers of reference refer to the same or similar parts throughout the several views.

There is shown only sufficient structure to give a clear understanding of its operation.

Referring in detail to my invention, there is shown a pair of side frames 20 and 2! which are joined by the cross ties 22.

Journalling in the frames 20 and 2| are the shafts 23, 24, 25 and 26. On the shafts 23, 25 and 26 are mounted the pulleys 2T, 28 and 29, around which pulleys 21, 28 and 29 and shaft 24 passes a conveyor belt or apron 30 upon which the partially processed fish loins 3| are placed parallel to the length of the apron 30.

Motion is imparted to the pulley 29 through a ratchet wheel 32 which is secured to the pulley 29. On the shaft 26 is rockably mounted an arm 33 provided with a pawl 34 which engages the teeth of the ratchet wheel 32. A link 35 is attached to the arm 33 by means of a pin 36 and receives a reciprocating motion from a source (not shown). The simple object of this mechanism is to impart an intermittent movement to the conveyor belt or apron 30.

Above the apron 3B is mounted a vertically movable frame 31 which is secured by the nuts 38 to the slide rods 39 mounted in the vertical guides 40.

Across the frames 20 and 2| is mounted the eccentric shaft 4| near the opposite ends of which are mounted the eccentrics 42 whose rods 43 are attached to the slide rods 39 by means of the pins 44.

On the shaft 4! is secured a sprocket wheel 45 whose chain 46 drives a sprocket wheel 47 on the shaft 48 of a Geneva wheel 49 whose disc 50 is provided with a roller 5| which engages the slots 52 in a driver disc 53 when driving and the locking disc 54 engages the arcuate portion 55 for the purpose of holding the disc 53 between driving operations in a manner which is well understood.

The disc 53 is secured on the shaft 56 which is supported by the frames 20 and 2 I.

On the frame 3'! are mounted a plurality of presser feet 57 and 58 which are arranged'in two rows transversely with relation to the apron 33.

The feet 51 and 58 are mounted on the vertical rods 59 which are slidable in the frame 3] and urged downwardly by the springs 60.

The feet 51 and 58 engage the loins 35 whenever the frame 31 is moved downwardly b the eccentric 42, and the area of the feet 5? and and the pressure of the springs 55 should be such as to hold the loins without injuring or crushing them.

Secured to the frame 31, betweenthe feet 5'! and 58, is a slicing knife Bl which, on its lowermost travel, comes {to the aproii 3n b'utnot near enough'to cut the apron."

Also mounted on the frame 31 are a pair of vertical spring urged rods 62, on the lower ends of which is mounted a separator blade 6 3 whose side 84 adjacent the knife ea is vertical and whose opposite side 65 is arcuate. The lowermost edge 66 is thin but not sharp, as the function of the blade 53 is to separate the pieces and provide a wall preventing the pieces from tipping when they are picked up by the turning device as well as to support the slice while being severed from theloin3l.

The turning turret .51 consists of a pair of end frames BBTwhich are keyed on the shaft 56 which is rotated by the driver disc 53 of the Geneva wheelAQ.

The frames 68 have formed therein slots 69 in which are slidably placed the shelves It which are normal to the flat sides H of the turret in front of and adjacent to the shelves Ill. The shelves 70 may be retracted within the turret 61 or extend therefrom at the lines of intersection of each pair of sides I I.

Within the turret 61 and mounted on the end frames 68 are the pivots 12, on bothends of which are secured levers 13 which extend through openings l4 formed within each shelf It.

A second lever 75 is attached to one end of the pivot 12 and carries thereon an anti-friction roller 16 disposed within the raceway 11 of a rockable cam 18 which is also mounted on the aXis of the turret shaft 56 and is rocked by means of the attached arm I Hi and alink connecting same to a suitable cam (not shown) on shaft 4|. This cam 18 is made rockable rather than stationary so that the shelves can be projected outwardly to rest on the upperside of shaft 24 after the turret 5! has come to rest.

It will be notedthat the anti-friction rollers project beyond the ends of the fiat sides ll of the turret 61 and occupy positions in the raceway 11 of rockable cam 78 and the position of the rollers 16 is such as to'cause the rollers '46 to move the shelf Ill inwardly and outwardly throughout the various positions shown in Figsl '7 to 11' inclusive.

Alongside of the turret 61 and parallel with the top thereof is a table 19 having formed therein a channel 80 in which rides the top run of a conveyor belt 8 l The portion 82 of the table 19 has formed therein the two straight slots 83 which terminate at one pair of ends in the curved slots 84in each of which is a roller 85.

The rollers 85 are mounted on the under side of a transfer plate 86 whose edge 8'! is grooved to receive one edge of the nearest fiat side H of the turret 61.

Above the plate 86 is formed a raceway 88 which contains the roller 89 which in turn is mounted on the upright spindle at which is carried by an arm 9! on the upright shaft 92 which journals in the channel shaped bracket 93 and has on its upper end a bevel gear 94 which meshes with a bevel gear 95 on the horizontal shaft 96. A rock lever 91 is secured on the shaft 95 and a rocking motion is imparted thereto from a cam (not shown) on shaft il by a link 98.

On the shaft 96 is also a gear 99 which drives a gear Hi0 on the vertical shaft II]! to which is secured an arm H32 equal in length to the arm 9! and operating in conjunction therewith. The arm Hi2 has a vertical spindle I03 on its outer 4 end which together with t he spindle have hinge fastenings I04 and 1!;0 to the transfer bar or rake I05 provided with angular connectors N16 to the hinges H14.

' It will be understood that, up to the present time, whole fish or loins from fish like tuna has been fed through a gang knife or cutting machine, after which operation the arrangement of th cut pieces to feed a given filling machine has been done by hand.

As my machine is primarily designed for handling pre-cooked fish like tuna it may, with minor adjustments, be used to out any kind of fish or similar products. In order to obtain a high capacity without submitting the cut pieces to severe abuse which would cause an objectionable amount of breaking up of the pieces, this machine has been designed in a manner above described.

It will be noted that the force applied which will cause the movement of the products is always applied to the same side or surface throughout the operation. The advantage arising from the use of my machine and method lies in the fact that thewhole fish or loin is placed upon the feeding apron, after which the operation becomes fully automatic. Inasmuch as the pieces are cut, separated and turned up in order to enter the cans in the proper way and the pieces are transferred onto the conveyor belts atthe same speed that the belt is travelling, it can'be seen that the pieces are not subjected to any breaking up or deteriorating action.

The operation of the machine is as follows:

Assuming that fish loins 3! are resting on the apron 30, by means of which they are conveyed to the slicing knife 6|, it follows that when the knife 6| descends, together with the separator blade 63, a piece of fish It]? will be cut off, being supported on the one side by the knife SI and the other side by the separator blade 63. It will be noted that in this descent of the blade 63, it has pushed the previously cut piece :58 onto the shelf EU as shown in Fig. '7.

As the movement continues, the knife e4 arises as shown in Fig. 8 and the turret Bl rotates, carrying the piece Hi8 upwardly while the separator blade 63 remains in a depressed or guiding position. In Fig. 9, the knife 6| and blade 63 are still further'elevated and the piece I838 has reached a horizontal position on the top of the turret ET. By this time, the transfer plate 86 is moved up to the turret 6"! ready to receive the piece lilii when pushed out by means of the bar Hi5 which carries the piece H38 onto the conveyor belt 8! In Fig. 10 this cycle is continued and the previously cut piece it: is falling into position on the side of the turret 61. Here it will be noted that the bar E05 is raised above the plane of the piece and is ready to be returned to its original position by means of the action'of the arms 9| and I02.

It will be noted that in Fig. 7, the piece N19 is being pushed off of the turret by the bar I05 while in Figs. 8 and 9 it is on the belt 81, while in Fig. 10 the bar 05 is raised for its return trip and in Fig. 11 it hasbeen lowered.

In Fig. 13, rake H35, angular connectors I06, shaft Ill] and driver plate H3 are tilted on the return stroke by the interaction of stationary earn H l and cam follower arm l [2, which is free to" rotate on shaft H0 and drives plate H3 through lugs I M and l i5.

From the foregoing, it can be seen that the cycle is continuous and complete and since the time element is an important factor in canning operations, both in regard to the labor cost and product deterioration, the advantage arising therefrom is apparent and the sanitary condition of the pack has been greatly improved.

As previously stated, only such portions of the mechanism necessary to an understanding of the apparatus and method have been illustrated and any mechanical equivalents of those shown may be employed without departing from the spirit of this invention.

Iclaim:

1. A machine for preparing fish for canning, consisting of an apron for conveying fish loins, a knife disposed above said apron for slicing said loins, spring urged presser feet on each side of said knife, a spring urged separating blade spaced from said knife, a turret disposed in front of the discharge end of said apron having a plurality of flat faces formed thereon, means operatively connected to said turret for intermittently turning said turret and stopping it when one of its fiat faces is adjacent to and spaced from said separator, an off-bearing conveyor disposed along the top of said turret and a rake operatively associated with said turret I01 transferring slices of the mm to said oft-bearing conveyor.

24. A machine 01' the class described, having in combination an apron for conveying fish loins, a double row of presser feet yieidably mounted over said apron, a slicing blade disposed between said rows or presser feet, a separator yieldably mounted in parallelism to said slicing plane, a turning turret mounted in front or the discharge end of said apron, said turning turret having six flat sides, a Geneva Wheel ior positioning said turret in which the top or said turret will assume a parallel position with relation to said apron, a separating blade spaced from said slicing blade having an inclined surface lacing said turning turret, means operatively connected to said turret for rotating said turret through one of its divisions and means operatively associated with said turret for removing pieces of sliced fish from the top side of said turret.

.ably operable in parallelism with said slicing knife and spaced therefrom by one row of presser feet, a hexagonal turret mounted on a horizontal axis in front of the discharge of said apron, said turret having shelves outwardly slidable through the vertices of the turret, a cam for operating said shelves, an off-bearing conveyor having a horizontal run below the top side of said turret, a transfer plate between said off-bearing conveyor and the top side of said turret, a cam associated with said transfer plate for moving said transfer plate toward said turret for the purpose of forming a continuous surface in relation thereto, and a rake operatively associated with said turret for moving pieces of fish loin from the top horizontal side of said turret across said transfer plate onto said off-bearing conveyor.

4. A machine of the class described consisting of an apron for moving fish loins in a horizontal plane, a slicing knife mounted over said apron, a hexagonal turret mounted in front of the discharge end of said apron on a horizontal axis approximately on the level of said apron, said turret having means for stopping same intermittently with its fiat side uppermost and with an inclined side facing said apron, said turret having mounted therein slidable shelves, each of which is normal to a turret side, a separator blade spaced from said slicing knife and a rake having means for moving same horizontally along the top of said turret to push pieces therefrom and a cam associated with said rake for raising said rake above said pieces on the return movement thereof.

5. In a machine of the class described, the

combination of a hexagonal turret having a hori-' zontal axis, a loin conveying apron having a horizontal top run approximately on the plane of said turret axis, a slicing knife mounted over said apron, presser feet on each side of said knife, a separator blade spaced from said slicing knife by a row of presser feet, said separator blade having a curved side facing an adjacent inclined side of said turret, a shelf siidably mounted in said turret and projectable therefrom on the trailing edge of said inclined side normal thereto, a conveyor belt disposed alongside of said turret having its top run slightly below the top side of said turret, a transfer plate slidable horizontally between said conveyor belt and the top side of said turret, an actuator operatively associated with said transfer plate for sliding said transfer plate, a rake mounted over said turret and transfer plate having actuating arms therefor and having a tilting cam whereby said rake assumes a vertical position when moving away from said turret and an outwardly tilted position when moving toward said turret.

6. A machine for preparing fish for canning consisting of an apron for conveying fish loins, a knife disposed above said apron for slicing said loins, a spring urged separating blade spaced from said knife, an off-bearing conveyor associated with said separator blade, and a turret for carrying separated pieces of fish from said separating blade and depositing same on said conveyor.

7. A machine for preparing fish for canning consisting of an apron for conveying fish loins longitudinally, a cut-off knife disposed above said apron for slicing said loins transversely with said apron, a separating blade at the discharge end of said apron spaced from said cut-01f knife, a turret upon which said separating blade can deposit a slice of fish after it is severed by said cutting knife, means for turning said turret so that the deposited slice of fish will lie on the top side thereof, an off-bearing conveyor associated with said turret and occupying a plane below the top side of the turret, and a rake for transferring a slice of fish from said turret to said off-bearing conveyor.

PER F. SKOOG.

REFERENCES CITED The following references are of record in the file of this patent:

UNITED STATES PATENTS Number Name Date 346,871 Shute et al Aug. 3, 1886 743,742 Munn Nov. 10, 1903 1,655,581 Sullivan Jan. 10, 1928 1,905,338 Brierly Apr. 25, 1933 2,041,986 Wetmore May 26, 1936 2,044,813 Rooney June 23, 1936 2,226,019 Rooney Dec. 24, 1940 

